News
Healthcare Attorneys Win Major Appeals Victory for Hospitals
Gammage & Burnham partners Cameron Artigue and Chris Hering won an important victory in the Arizona court of appeals on April 5, when the court clarified that hospital lien rights extend to and include “medpay” policies issued by auto insurance companies. Under Arizona law, hospitals have liens on the personal injury claims of their patients, as well as related claims on all types of insurance except for “health insurance.” An insurance company that pays out benefits without first satisfying the lien claim is liable to pay the hospital to satisfy its lien. Farmers Insurance issued a large medpay policy, which it paid to its insured policyholder without first satisfying the lien claim of G&B’s hospital client.
Changes in Cannabis Banking: What You Need to Know
Posted by Kevin Merritt
Since medical marijuana became legal in Arizona in 2010, operators in the industry have faced significant challenges in cash management and banking. At the time, effectively every financial institution refused to provide any services, since marijuana is still a Schedule 1 prohibited substance under federal law, with stiff penalties for possession, distribution and sale. As the result of that classification, every financial transaction involving the proceeds of the cannabis industry can arguably be considered money laundering under federal law. Times are changing, however…
As the legal landscape across the country has evolved, with 33 states now allowing either medical or recreational use of cannabis, the banking industry is starting to follow suit.
Opportunity Zones: New Guidance from the IRS
Posted by Chris Raddatz
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released its second batch of guidance late last month regarding “opportunity zones.” Opportunity Zones were created as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 to incentivize investment in designated, economically distressed communities. The 169 pages of proposed regulations provide additional guidance to investors, fund managers and others seeking to bring equity capital to operating and real estate businesses within the OZs.
While many investors and fund managers have been active in investing in the OZs, the lack of regulatory guidance has somewhat limited the activity, especially as to operating businesses (versus real estate investment).
Gammage & Burnham Ranked in Chambers USA 2019
Gammage & Burnham is pleased to announce that Chambers USA 2019: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business has ranked six of the firm’s attorneys and our largest practice group among the best in the U.S.
Chambers and Partners, which produces “Chambers USA,” is a client referral organization that researches and subjectively ranks attorneys and law firm practice groups nationwide. It ranks firms and lawyers who are considered leaders in their profession.
The firm earned rankings in two of its core areas:
Zoning/Land Use (Band 1) and Real Estate (Band 2*).
Gammage & Burnham Attorneys Named 2019 Southwest Super Lawyers
Gammage & Burnham is proud to announce that eight attorneys have been named by Southwest Super Lawyers® magazine as being among the top attorneys in Arizona for 2019. Additionally, two attorneys were named to the 2019 Southwest Rising Stars list.
Super Lawyers®, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service that recognizes outstanding lawyers who have gained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Statewide selections are made annually using a multi-phased process that includes independent peer nominations, peer evaluations, and research. No more than five percent of total lawyers in a state are selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers.
